Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 2: 11/17

にして ①At, Over, In, Only (after, when, or because)

Structure

Number + Counter + にして
Noun + にして

Details

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    Standard

About にして①

When the case-marking particle に is combined with the て-form of する, it often carries the meaning of 'at (A)', 'over (A)', or 'only when (A)'. This nuance is used when (A) is something that is a fairly high level, or some point that would be considered a prime example for any given topic.

にして may appear following counters, or standard nouns.

While にして marks (A) as some particular exemplar, what follows may either be something that is or is not considered befitting of that example. In this way, (B) generally describes something that either does or does not fulfill the expectations of (A), and perhaps why.

It is common to see にして followed by grammar patterns such as ようやく 'finally', or 初(はじ)めて 'only when'. These function to emphasize にして even further as being a point from which something is achieved or attained.

Fun Fact

Just like other structures that make use of the various conjugations of にする, にして indicates something that has been decided upon, or is being accepted as a fact from which a new condition will arise, or has arisen.

Examples

--:--

    彼(かれ)はバブルがはじけたことにより一夜(いちや)にして破産者(はさんしゃ)となった。

    Due to the bubble burst, he went bankrupt overnight. (only (after/when/because))

    釈迦(しゃか)は２９(にじゅうきゅう)歳(さい)にして初(はじ)めて、宮殿(きゅうでん)を出(で)た。

    Buddha left the palace for the first time at the age of 29. (only (after/when/because))

    これは西尾維新(にしおいしん)のような文豪(ぶんごう)にして初(はじ)めて書(か)ける名著(めいちょ)だ。

    This is a masterpiece that could only be written when a literary giant like Nishio Ishin did it for the first time.

    ふうかはあきつき氏(し)夫妻(ふさい)の結婚(けっこん)２０(にじゅう)年(ねん)目(め)にして初(はじ)めて授(さず)かった長女(ちょうじょ)だった。

    Fuuka was the first daughter that the Akitsuki couple was blessed with in the 20th year of their marriage. (only (after/when/because))

    宝(たから)くじに当(あ)たって一夜(いちや)にして大金持(おおがねも)ちになった彼(かれ)が、お金(かね)の価値(かち)を理解(りかい)する事(こと)は無(な)いでしょう。

    Having won the lottery and becoming incredibly rich overnight, he cannot understand the value of money, can he?

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